Angelus Instrument de Vitesse

Quick specs Angelus Instrument de Vitesse
Price: approx. € 18.000 | CHF 17’100 | approx. $ 19,000 | approx. £ 15,000
Size: 39 mm
Reference: 0CHBS.B01A.V010S (black) | 0CHBS.I01A.V010S (white) – limited to 25 pieces each

The Angelus Instrument de Vitesse is a new member of the La Fabrique collection. It comes in two variants: one in ebony black and the other one in ivory white. It’s functionality follows the earlier released Angelus Chronographe Medical x Massena Lab, which has the same movement.

As the name ‘Instrument de Vitesse’ implies, which is French for ‘Speed Instrument’ it is capable of measuring speeds. For that is uses a tachymeter in combination with a chronograph that can only count 60 seconds. So, it’s not a traditional chronograph, as you can see on the lay-out of the dial. It has hands and applied Arabic numerals that are coated with super-luminova for clarity and contrast in the dark. But there are no totalizers or small seconds.

How does a tachymeter on a watch work?

To measure speeds with a watch you need a tachymeter scale. To scale can be either in kilometers per hour or miles per hour – this watch does the first. It is also possible to have a scale which measures heartbeats, but that’s another story. With the tachymeter scale you can measure an average speed over a certain distance. For which you also need a seconds hand, or even better: a chronograph hand that indicates seconds. Because you can start and stop that hand whenever you want, with a single push of a button.

The Angelus Instrument de Vitesse has a base metric of 1,000 which is the equivalent of one kilometer. Now, all you have to do is find a road which has kilometer markers. Hit the chronograph button when you pass a marker and stop it at the second marker. Now the chronograph hand points out your average speed on the tachymeter scale.

The Angelus Instrument de Vitesse has a power reserve of 42 hours

Inside the 39-millimeter stainless steel case is the hand-wound Angelus caliber A5000 with a column wheel chronograph with horizontal clutch. The movement is created by La Joux-Perret and offers a power reserve of 42 hours thanks to a beating frequency of 3 Hertz. You can admire it through the transparent case back. The finish his high-end with a circular-grained and palladium finish main plate, palladium finish and chamfered bridges with Côtes de Genève motif and more. The wheels have a golden (2N) finish and are also circular-grained, the screws are polished.

The Angelus Instrument de Vitesse comes on a caramel calfskin if you go for the white dial, or a midnight-blue nubuck strap for the blue dial. It is secured with a stainless pin buckle. And both versions of this mono-pusher chronograph are limited to 25 pieces.